How to create specific filters in your channels

Custom Fields (also called filters in the community channels) allow you to structure user content and improve navigation by letting members filter posts by specific criteria. 

For example, you can ask users to select from multiple-choice options, fill out their preferences, or express their interests on a specific topic.

Why add Custom Fields?

Custom Fields help you:

• Create categories or options for users when they make a post
• Improve content filtering and navigation for your members
• Structure user submissions (for example: routines, reviews)
• Collect specific information from your community

How to add Custom Fields to your channel

You can add Custom Fields once the channel has been created. In Configuration > Channels, click the Edit icon on the channel where you want to add Custom Fields. Then, in the Posts configuration tab, follow these steps:

1. In the Custom fields section, click + Add
2. Fill out the custom field details:
   • Label: Enter the question or message
   • Type of field: Choose from the dropdown menu (Text, Single choice, Multiple choice, Location)
   • + Add a possibility to add answers for single choice and multiple choice questions
3. Configure additional options:
   • Optional toggle: Enable if the field is not required for users 
   • Is Readonly toggle: Enable if users cannot interact with the field (useful for informational fields)
4. Rank: Set the position of each custom field if you have multiple fields

One done, click Add this field to save your custom field. Repeat these steps for as many custom fields as you want to add. Then, scroll all way down and click Edit to save your changes to the channel.

Enable filtering by Custom Fields

Once added in the Posts configuration tab, you can enable filtering content by Custom Fields in the channel:

1. Go to the channel's editing page (Configuration > Channels, click the Edit icon)
2. Click on Filtering & Sorting in the left menu
3. Activate the toggle Custom fields (It appears only when Custom Fields have been added in a channel)
4. Click Edit to save your changes

In the channel, the filter option will show like this:

Custom Field types 

Best practices

• Keep it simple: Don't add too many custom fields
• Be clear: Use concise labels that members understand easily
• Make it optional: Only mark fields as required if they're essential
• Organize logically: Use the Rank field to order custom fields in a logical sequence
• Test before launching: Create a post yourself to see how the custom fields appear to members